ReligionCollege of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Credits: 3.
Introduces the historical underpinnings, geographical movement, development and current expression of a variety of religious traditions. (H)
Credits: 3.
Examines the relationship between religion and sustainability and explores how the world’s different religious traditions address the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability. Topics include social and environmental justice, sustainable consumption, and sustainable agriculture. Case studies will highlight multiple religious perspectives, especially those from Latin America and south Asia.
Credits: 3.
Exploration of competing secular and religious views regarding human impacts on and moral responsibilities toward nature and of the key thinkers and social movements in contention over them. (H)
Credits: 3.
A look at the major groupings of religion in the United States: How they differ, what they have in common, the various dimensions of each in their interaction and their roles in the society of the American people. (H, D)
REL 2166 Religion and the Environmental Crisis
Credits: 3.
Examines the relationship between religion, nature and ethics in different religious traditions.
Credits: 3.
An historical inquiry into the ideological origins and social context of American religious life. (H, D)
Credits: 3.
Introduces important issues involved in the relations between religion and the natural and physical sciences. Major themes include religious dimensions of science, creation and evolution, ecology, ethics, views of human nature and scientific analyses of religious practice. (H)
Credits: 3.
This course will guide students to reflect on how ethical decisions are made, drawing on resources from Antiquity, the Bible and texts and thinkers from several traditions across time and space. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3.
The history, literature and beliefs of the Israelites from Biblical text, in the light of modern scholarship. (H)
Credits: 3.
An introduction to the various literary, social and religious contexts of the books of the New Testament. (H)
REL 2300 Introduction to World Religions
Credits: 3.
This course examines the origin, historical development and key figures, concepts, symbols, practices and institutions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and East Asian traditions, including Taoism, Shinto and Confucianism. (H, N)
Credits: 3.
This course examines the history, performing arts and cultural expressions of the Hindu traditions of India and in the diaspora.
Credits: 3.
Study of the religious dimensions of human culture, focusing on Asia (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto). (H, N)
Credits: 3.
Introduction to the doctrines, practices and institutions that shaped the essential identity of Buddhism as a pan-Asian religion that transcended ethic, cultural and linguistic boundaries. (H)
Credits: 3.
Historical introduction to Islamic tradition. The course will explore foundational elements of the tradition, based on the life of Prophet Muhammad and the text of the Qur'an and on an examination of subsequent Islamic expressions. (H, N)
Credits: 3.
This course focuses on the religious values, attitudes and norms of Native American peoples within the United States. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3.
A multidisciplinary approach to the Jewish experience from its Biblical origins to modern times. (H, N)
Credits: 3 to 6; can be repeated with change in content up to 6 credits.
Variable topics in religion at an introductory level. (H)
REL 3021 The Individual and Religious Experience
Credits: 3.
An investigation of religious ideas and practices and their meaning for the individual. (H)
Credits: 3.
Theory and method in the anthropological and religious studies of myths, rituals, religious specialists and religious movements using examples from cultures throughout the world.
REL 3103 Religion and Nature in North America
Credits: 3.
Investigation of the ways that religion and nature have evolved and influenced one another during the cultural, political and environmental history of North America since European contact. (H)
Credits: 3.
Explores the relationship between food and religion by investigating food in the context of specific religious traditions, e.g., Hinduism; and examining food as a moral and ethical category in religious and secular contexts, e.g., organic and locavore.
REL 3120 Religion and the American Immigrant Experience
Credits: 3.
Offers a survey of the roles that religion has played in some significant movements of people into and out of the U.S. from the pre-Colonial period to the present.
Credits: 3.
Surveys the history of Latino(a) presence in the U.S. and examines the roles religion has played.
REL 3131 Cults and New Religious Movements
Credits: 3.
An investigation of significant new religious movements such as the People's Temple and the Branch Davidians. The course seeks to uncover the origins, internal structure, popularity and functioning of these movements while attending to claims of manipulation and discrimination. (S)
Credits: 3.
An interdisciplinary study of African-American religious experience from its beginnings in the 17th century to the present. (H)
Credits: 3.
The interaction of religion and social institutions and the ways religious groups influence and are influenced by the socio-cultural environment. (S) (WR)
Credits: 3.
Examines the relationship between gender and nature as it is constructed in different religious traditions.
REL 3169 Religion and Environmental Movements of the Global South
Credits: 3; Prereq: sophomore status minimum.
Explores the religious dimensions of environmental movements in the global South, including seed-saving campaigns in India and Mexico, Liberation Theology and the Green Belt Movement. Course examines global environmental issues; e.g., loss of biodiversity, climate change and privatization of water that disproportionately affect the poor and marginalized.
REL 3170 Ethics in Religious Perspective
Credits: 3.
An exploration of ethical concepts in Western religions and the religious dimensions of current moral issues. (H, S) (WR)
Credits: 3.
An examination of the interplay of religion, race and rebellion in the various revolts, insurrections and social movements of African Americans in the United States.
Credits: 3.
An intensive introduction to the literary study of the Hebrew Bible within the context of ancient Near Eastern literature and history.
Credits: 3; Prereq: REL 2210 or REL 2240, or instructor permission.
A redaction-critical study of selected portions of the canonical Gospels with particular attention to the development of traditions about Jesus in the earliest church. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3; Prereq: instructor permission.
Examines the biblical Book of Job and the ongoing tradition of its interpretation.
Credits: 3.
Examines ancient Israelite and early Jewish wisdom literature along with similar literature from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.
REL 3252 Acts, Paul and Early Christianity
Credits: 3; Prereq: REL 2210 or REL 2240, or instructor permission.
An examination of the narrative of the beginning of Christianity according to the Book of Acts, especially as it describes the career of Paul. The second half of the course focuses on the letters of Paul as an alternative source for understanding the earliest forms of Christianity. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3.
A critical examination of the litrary representation and historical realities of gender and sexuality in ancient Israel through close readings of selected texts from the Hebrew Bible.
Credits: 3.
A comprehensive historical survey of the main religious traditions in China, with focus on Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.
Credits: 3.
An examination of the Jewish-Christian encounter. The historical interaction between Judaism and Christianity including how each group symbolized the other and the practical implications of those representations. (H, N) (WR)
Credits: 3.
Historical look at the major religious traditions of the Indian subcontinent. (H, N) (WR)
REL 3333 Gods, Sages and Kings: Mythology
Credits: 3.
Survey and analysis of important narrative genres and myth cycles of premodern India, featuring selections from the Vedas, Puranas and the Indian epics, read in translation. (H)
REL 3335 Hindu Sacred Text/Social-Ritual Context
Credits: 3; Prereq: any course in Asian religion, Asian scripture or REL 4024.
An investigation of the development, use, authority and performance of sacred texts in ritual, drama, festival and music within the Hindu tradition. (H, N)
Credits: 3.
A study of the religious traditions of India and their interpretation in relation to conditions of the modern world. (H, N) (WR)
Credits: 3.
Comprehensive historical survey of Chinese Buddhism. Explores the growth and transformation of the beliefs, doctrines, practices and institutions that shaped the historical trajectory of Chinese Buddhism.
Credits: 3.
The course will focus on religion and culture in Africa, the encounter of Islam and Christianity with indigenous religions and diasporic reformulations. (H, N) (WR)
Credits: 3.
Provides an overview of the development of Muslim societies in Africa from the 7th to the early 20th century with a focus on the religious dynamics that led to the formation of a multitude of African Muslim cultures.
Credits: 3.
Survey of the main religious traditions in Latin America: native religions, Catholicism in its various forms, Protestantism and African-based religions. (H, N)
Credits: 3.
Exploration of Jewish and Christian apocalypticism through a survey of apocalyptic texts from the Hebrew Bible, Second Temple Jewish literature (including the Dead Sea Scrolls) and the New Testament. (H)
Credits: 3; Prereq: refer to the department.
Mysticism in Judaism in Biblical Rabbinic, Medieval and Modern periods. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3.
Explores the problem of violence that springs from religious roots in Western, Asian, African and Native American traditions. (H, N) (WR)
Credits: 3.
An examination of the modern outlook, focusing upon conceptual commitments associated with present cultural styles, with attention to certain critical issues for religion. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3.
An investigation of central issues connected with the concept of God in Western religious traditions. Topics include arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil, theodicy, faith and reason. (H)
Credits: 3.
Religious perspectives on nature and the environment, focusing on different theological understandings of the natural world, approaches to using natural resources and efforts to understand human responsibility for the realm of nature. (H)
Credits: 3.
Introductory overview of the American Catholic experience from an historical and sociological perspective. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3.
Survey of Jewish traditions about nature, the environment and ecology.
Credits: 3.
Investigates the development of religious and political understandings of Jews, Judaism and Jewish identity in modern and contemporary periods.
Credits: 3.
Introduces students to Jewish biblical interpretation, or midrash, from antiquity to today.
Credits: 3.
An intensive introduction to approaches to the study of religion. Required of all religion majors during the junior year.
Credits: 3 to 12; can be repeated with change in content up to 12 credits. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3; Prereq: instructor permission.
Relationships between ethics and utopias in literature, religious communities and millenarian movements. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3.
Development of religious life in the South through its history, with particular reference to its interaction with regional culture. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3.
An investigation of the diverse relations between religion and processes of social change. The course uses both theoretical and ethnographic case studies to explore issues raised by religion's social role in the U.S., Britain, Asia, Latin America and Africa. (S) (WR)
Credits: 3; Prereq: instructor permission.
Provides an understanding of both the oppressive and liberatory aspects of the three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) for women.
Credits: 3; Prereq: junior standing or above.
Explores relationships between religion, nature and society as a means to understand how these relationships reflect and shape social relations among people.
REL 4173 Religion, Ethics and Sustainable Agriculture
Credits: 3; Prereq: instructor permission.
Examines the role of agriculture within religious thought and practice.
REL 4177 Special Topics in Religion and Ethics
Credits: 3 to 9; can be repeated with change in content up to 9 credits. (WR)
REL 4188 Special Topics in Religion and Ethics
Credits: 3.
Examines the ethical, religious and political dimensions of the relationship between ethical ideas and practices, including the divergence between expressed values and actual practices and some possible reasons for this divergence.
Credits: 3; Prereq: one previous course in religion or philosophy, or instructor permission.
Examines the key themes that have characterized modernity-postmodernity debate and the impact of this debate for the study of religion. (H)
REL 4209 Dead Sea Scrolls and Early Jewish Literature
Credits: 3; Prereq: refer to the department.
Explores the varieties of literature that arose within Judaism from 250 BCE to 220 CE, including selections from the Dead Sea Scrolls, the OT Pseudepigrapha, Philo and Josephus. (H)
Credits: 3.
An exploration of what the first book of the Bible says about God, gender, power, sexuality and family values, through close readings of primary biblical sources and contemporary (feminist and queer) scholarship. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3 to 6; can be repeated with change in content up to 6 credits. Prereq: instructor permission.
An in-depth study of the Pentateuch (Genesis - Deuteronomy) in light of modern biblical scholarship.
REL 4293 Special Topics in Biblical Studies
Credits: 3 to 9; can be repeated with change in content up to 9 credits.
Advanced study of special topics for students with previous courses in biblical studies. (WR)
Credits: 3; Prereq: one course in Hinduism.
A study of women in Hindu traditions focusing on their participation in temple practices, religious scholarship and practices of piety and austerity. Special attention is given to women poets, scholars, ascetics and patrons in Hindu religions and society. (H, N) (WR)
REL 4343 Buddhism Across Boundaries: Transmission and Transformation of Buddhist Traditions
Credits: 3.
A cross-cultural history of Buddhism is studied from the perspective of selected primary and secondary sources. (H, N)
Credits: 3; Prereq: Introduction to Buddhism, Chinese Religions or instructor permission.
The course is a comprehensive inquiry of the history, doctrines and practices of the Chan/Zen tradition of East Asian Buddhism.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Introduction to Buddhism or instructor permission.
The course explores the theory and practice of Buddhist meditation, with focus on the systems of meditation practice developed by the Theravada school in Sri Lanka and the main traditions of Chinese Buddhism.
Credits: 3; Prereq: instructor permission.
Provides an interdisciplinary understanding of the history and role of women in Islam.
REL 4367 The History of Islam in the Modern World
Credits: 3; Prereq: REL 2362.
The history of Muslims from the eighteenth century to the present with particular attention to certain critical issues and interpretations in relation to conditions of the modern world. (H, N) (WR)
REL 4382 Religion and Politics in Latin America
Credits: 3.
Relationship between religion and politics in Latin America, from a variety of perspectives and approaches. It addresses millenarian movements, gender, ethnicity and class, as well as church-state dynamics. (S, N)
Credits: 3; Prereq: instructor permission.
Provides knowledge of Islam in the Americas from the 15th century to the present. (H) (WR)
Credits: 3; Prereq: instructor permission.
An in-depth exploration of the main works of various existentialist thinkers with a particular emphasis on their views of religion.
REL 4490 Special Topics in Religious Thought
Credits: 3 to 9; can be repeated with change in content up to 9 credits. (WR)
REL 4491 Sacred Geographies: Place, Space and Pilgrimage In South Asia
Credits: 3; Prereq: REL 2317, REL 2341 or REL 3022.
With a focus on reading primary texts in translation supplemented with recent ethnographies, this weekly seminar will explore various conceptions of sacred space and place - and movement to, from and between them - in the Indic imagination.
Credits: 3; Prereq: instructor permission.
A comparative survey of literary, historical, ritual and material aspects of ancient Israelite religion with evidence from Canaan, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome.
Credits: 3; Prereq: refer to the department.
A critical and historical introduction to the Rabbinic texts of Mishnah, Midrash and Talmud. Emphasis is placed on the growth and development of the Rabbinic movement and upon reading practices. (H, N)
Credits: 1 to 5; can be repeated with change in content up to 9 credits. Prereq: 9 hours in religion or department permission.
Majors or other advanced undergraduates who wish to supplement regular coursework by individual studies under guidance may apply to a member of the faculty for individual work.
REL 4930 Special Topics in Religious Thought
Credits: 3 to 6; can be repeated with a change in content up to 6 credits.
Credits: 3.
Thesis preparation option for honors-level students.
REL 4933 The Comparative Study of Religion
Credits: 3; Prereq: junior or senior standing and department permission.
A study of the history and major methods that have contributed to the modern study of religion. (H) (WR)
REL 4936 Special Topics in Religious Studies
Credits: 3 to 9; can be repeated with change in content up to 9 credits.
Advanced study for students with proper preparation of selected topics involving one or more religious traditions. (WR)
Credits: 1 to 18; ; can be repeated with change in content up to 18 credits. Prereq: Permission of undergraduate adviser.
This revolving topics course provides a mechanism by which course work taken abroad as part of an approved student program can be recorded on the transcript and counted toward UF graduation.
Credits: 4.
First semester of a two-semester series that introduces the Sanskrit language through the Devanagari Script.
Credits: 4.
Second semester of a two-semester series that introduces the Sanskrit language through the Devanagari Script with an emphasis on reading, writing, grammar and oral recitation.
Credits: 3; Prereq: SRK 1121 with a grade of C or better, or equivalent.
Intermediate study of Sanskrit to increase knowledge of vocabulary by developing reading and translation skills.
Credits: 3; Prereq: SRK 2200 with a grade of C or better, or equivalent.
Continuation of intermediate Sanskrit to increase knowledge of vocabulary by developing reading and translation skills.
Credits: 3; Prereq: SRK 2201 with a grade of C or better, or equivalent.
Advanced study of Sanskrit to further develop skills in reading and understanding texts.
Credits: 3; Prereq: SKR 3410 with a grade of C or better, or equivalent.
Continuation of advanced Sanskrit to further develop skills in reading and understanding texts.
The following religion courses are offered by other departments:
ANT 3241 Anthropology of Religion (S, N)
ANT 3375 Islamic Civilization (H, N) (WR
CLT 3371 Religions of the Graeco-Roman World (H, N)
LIT 3173 Jewish Literature (H, N)
POS 4291 Religion and Politics in the United States (WR)
SYO 4200 Sociology of Religion (S, N) (WR)